Films featured in Class 3
The Experience of Aging in Feature-length Films 2008:
- Harry and Tonto, Paul Mazursky (1973). An old man (Art Carney),
evicted from his apartment in New York City, moves in with his son and family on
Long Island, and then escapes to the road with his orange cat Tonto. Everywhere
he turns he experiences exciting adventures and eventually resolves his wanderlust.
- Cinema Paradiso, Giuseppe Tornatore (Italy, 1988).
A middle-aged film producer, Salvatore, reviews his life as a child in
post-World-War II Italy. He recalls his friendship with an old man, the town
projectionist, and this man's influence on his life both as a child and as an
adolescent. After his life review, Salvatore returns to his hometown for
Alfredo’s funeral and receives a final insight
into this intergenerational relationship.
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter . . . and Spring, Kim Ki-Duk
(South Korea, 2003). The cycle of human suffering and renewal
is played out on a floating Buddhist temple in a remote mountain lake
in this five-part film. An old monk and his student are featured in the
first three sections. The novice returns alone to become the temple
monk in the fourth section.
- Antonia's Line, Agnieska Holland (Netherlands, 1995). A woman returns to her former community after WW II,
unifies a diverse gallery of misfits, generates an
intergenerational matriarchal line, and restores the
community through her love and courage.
Film resource written by Robert E. Yahnke
Copyright, Robert E. Yahnke, © 2009
Professor, Univ. of Minnesota
Request permission from the author to reprint this resource--for educational use only